Rebranding channels

[antongould]

Re. offense/offence: the person concerned appears to spend some of his or her time in New York City, so let's not criticize his or her linguistic practises (or practices). There's plenty of space for all of us on the pavement (or sidewalk)

Don't worry about it salymap and Eudaimonia have been sworn enemies for years - well Sidcup and Staten Island - Go Figure!

[salymap]

Anton, I have enough [health] problems without making virtual 'enemies' as you put it.And don't know Staten Island but Sidcup

suits me, no funnier a name than 'Tickleton' was it? Perhaps you've been over there too long.

[salymap]

Re. offense/offence: the person concerned appears to spend some of his or her time in New York City, so let's not criticize his or her linguistic practises (or practices). There's plenty of space for all of us on the pavement (or sidewalk)

Yes I remember the complications some years ago when one of my US cousins [our mums were sisters]wasstaying with us. A simple request forwhat they call an eraser, wecall a r....r, caused much err,fun.

[Flosshilde]

Yes I remember the complications some years ago when one of my US cousins [our mums were sisters]wasstaying with us. A simple request forwhat they call an eraser, wecall a r....r, caused much err,fun.

Yes, & Peter Cook supposedly caused ructions when he said on an USA chat show that he was never happier than when he had a fag in his mouth.

[marthe]

Ah yes...our divided language and all the merry pitfalls. During my first few weeks in England (July-Oct1975), I worked at an archaeological excavation in Essex (Saxon site on Thames estuary) where the site supervisors would say things that made all the well-brought-up American girls blush furiously e.g. being asked for a rubber, or what time they wanted to be knocked-up in the morning. Fag break was another one. I very quickly found out that there were words and expressions that were quite innocent sounding to American ears but were considered rude to use in polite company in England.

[Flosshilde]

Two countries divided by a common language - Oscar Wilde on the UK & the USA.

[marthe]

Flosshilde, so much has been written about this! To me it's always interesting and amusing. Sarah Lyall's The Anglophiles is the most recent book I've read that discusses the divide between the two countries. She's one of the New York Times's London correspondents, is married to Robert McCrum (who doesn't rinse the dishes when doing the washing-up), and lives in England. The subject is close to home and dear to my heart.

[salymap]

My outstanding memory of the two weeks that my American cousin stayed with us is.....Meatballs in tomato sauce.
I was at work, she took over my mum's kitchen, used every saucepan and pot, taking the surface off one pan with the acid tomatoes boiling for hours. She made enough for ten, [there were the three of us] and the kitchen curtains had tobe washed as they were full of tomato smells. We were grateful to her but she had that overdrive that we sadly lack in this country. It was fun though.

[2LO]

An American friend picked up a fair bit of 'English' during her year working in London. Describing herself as the company's dogsbody when she called home alarmed her doting parents somewhat.

[marthe]

Ah Spaghetti and Meatballs! I'll always remember the expression of shock and horror on the faces of my English in-laws when I served them spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs. Shopping for the ingredients in the local Co-op (up north) was a challenge. "Spaghetti??? We don't carry that, luv!!!" Of course, this was back in the 70s and all kinds of exotic things are now available in supermarkets on both sides of the Atlantic. The Irish section (there's no English section) of our local supermarket carries all the delights of home such as Branston Pickle, good marmalade etc.

2LO: my American friends picked up more than interesting language; they came home sporting tattoos on their shoulders. This was considered very daring at the time (1970s) and involved going to one of the more disreputable parts of London to visit a tattoo artist. I often wonder how the respectable, stock broker, staunch Republican father of one of my friends reacted when his darling daughter came home with a butterfly tattooed on her shoulder.

[salymap]

What's the best off topic or volte-face on these MBs? From 'Rebranding Channels' to 'Meatballs' must be a contender, surely?

[Norfolk Born]

What's the best off topic or volte-face on these MBs? From 'Rebranding Channels' to 'Meatballs' must be a contender, surely?

I don't know about Meatballs, but for some time I've thought that the many short items on 'Breakfast' add up to a Dim Sum.